Button-hole attach m ent for sewing-machines



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l. J. W. BLODGETT. BUTTON HOLE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 360,649.

- Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

N. PETERS, PhnlmLMwgnpher. Wllhinllflfk n a (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. W. BLODGETT. BUTTON HOLE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. No. 360,649.

Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

.716? eases MW 01W N. PETERS Phowl lhognphir, Wluhl'ngmm D C.

(N6 Model.) 4 S11 1} S11 J. W. BLODGETT. e6 8 Get 4 BUTTON HOLE ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES. N9. 360,649. Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

s -lu N j N. PETERS. Phnla- TI 77?? eases 6, 14?

Jaw/WM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IV. BLODGE'IT, OF HIGHIVOOD, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK M. BLAIR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BUTTON-HOLE ATTACHMENT-FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,649, dated April 5, 1887.

Application filed September 7,1885. Serial No. 176,440. (No modchl To all whom it 1nayc0ncern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. BLoDeETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highwood, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Button IIole Attachments for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a full description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation showing my attachment applied; Fig. 2, a side view showing the connection between the needle-bar of the machine and the lever which operates the attachment; Fig. 3, a plan View of' the attachment detached; Fig. 4, an elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a sectional view taken on the line a a of Fig. 3, Fig. 6, a sectional view taken 011 the line a v of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a sectional view taken on the line we) of Fig. 4; Fig. 8, a sectional view taken on the line a: x of Fig. 4; Fig. 9, a sectional View taken on the line 1 y of Fig. 3, and Fig. 10 a detail plan view, of one of the plates detached.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to button-hole attachmenls for sewing-machines, and it has for its object to produce a device which shall be antomatic in its action and possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general eiiiciency, while at the same time provision is made for the regulation of the various operations to cause them to conform with button-holes of various sizes and finish.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe, and then particularly pointout in the claims.

In the drawings, A represents the bed-plate of the machine, which is constructed to receive the remaining parts, and is adapted to be attached to the cloth-plate of the sewing-Ina chine in any suitable manner,the means shown in the present instance consisting of a dovetailed plate, a,which fits within a corresponding groove in the cloth-plate.

B indicates a plate mounted to reciprocate longitudinally upon the bed-plate A, it being slotted for almost its entire lengtl1,and guided B, extending through a slot, d, in the plate D,

so as to cause the plate D to move longitudinally along with the plate B,while at the same time the plate D is capable of oscillation across its line of reciprocation, the said oscillatory motion being imparted to the plate in the manner hereinafter described.

To the forward end of the plate D is attached the cloth-clamp, consisting of a lower plate or jaw, E, and an upper plate or jaw, E, both plates being slotted, as shown at c, to allow sufficient space for the button-hole, and the upper plate being provided with teeth to clamp the cloth and hold it firmly in position. The upper plate, E, is held away from the lower plate, E, by means of its own elasticity, and is depressed to clamp the cloth by means of a suitable carn-lever, e, pivoted on a post or sup port on the lower plate, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

F indicates the lever which actuates the device. This lever is pivoted upon a post, I), mounted on the bed-plate A, and is slotted, as shown atf, to engage a pin, f, on the needlebar F of the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. A block, 9, pivoted to one arm of thelever F, has pivotally mounted upon it a hook-pawl, G, thrown normally inward bymeans of a suitable spring, 9, and provided with a slot, In this slot is arranged apin, 71, on one end of a lever, H, pivoted on the post 0, and having its other end provided with a spring-pawl, h, adapted to engage with the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, I, which is also mounted on the post 0.

1 indicates a disk attached to the upper side of the ratchet-wheel I, and slotted at i to receive one end of the pitman J, which is adj ustably connected to the said disk by means of a screw passing through the pitman and taking in a flanged block which slides in the slot, the flanges of the said block being drawn up against the bottom of the disk when the screw The opposite end of the pitman J is connected with the post 13 on the reciprocating plate B, so that the intermittent rotary motion imparted to the ratchet-wheel I and disk I by means of the lever F, slotted hook-pawl G, and lever H, with its spring-pawl, will, by means of the pitman J, cause an intermittent reciprocating motion of the plate B and the parts attached thereto. The length of this reciprocating motion may be regulated to cause it to correspond to the length of the button-hole by adjusting the pitman J within the slot z, so as to move it farther from or nearer to the center of the said disk, as may be desired. The length of each step of the reciprocation, and consequently the distance apart at which the stitches will be located, is regulated by means of a plate, G mounted on the hook-pawl G, and capable of adjustment by means of an adjusting-screw, so as to be projected to a greater or less extent over the slot g". This plate by its adjustment may be caused to increase or diminish the length of the said slot, thereby increasing or diminishing the throw of the lever H, and consequently regulating the distance which it moves the ratchet-wheel and the parts operated thereby at each vibration of the lever.

It being well known that the rate of speed of a erank-aud-pitman connection decreases as the crank reaches the limit of its stroke in each direction, it is obvious that some means should be provided for overcoming this diiificnlty and rendering the speed of reciprocation 0f, the plate B equal at all points of its travel,

thus equalizing the stitches along the entire length of the button-hole. For this purpose I connect the pitman J to the post B on the plate B in the following manner:

J indicates a plate attached to the top of the postB, and provided with a transverse slot, j, and a longitudinal slot, j. The pitman is provided with suitable guide blocks, 9'", which slide within the slots. It will be seen that as the pitman J approaches the end of its stroke in each direction it will approach a position in line with the line of travel of the plate B. In doing so the guide-block j, which travels in the transverse slot j, will movein an arc of a circle, and since the slot j is a straight slot the plate J will be carried farther away from the point of attachment of the pitmanJ to the disk I. The plates B and D move in unison with the plate J. This motion pro duced by the action of the guide-block on the straight slot is in addition to the ordinary throw ofthe pitman, and increases as the throw of the pitman decreases, thereby causing the distance which the plate B is fed at each step to be equal at all times. The necessity for this equalizing device arises from the fact that the disk 1 is rotated to an equal extent at each stroke of the machine. This movement of the disk would, if no equalizing device were employed, move the plate J and the plates B and D, which move in unison therewith, to a somewhat greater or less extent at each stroke, ae-

end, as hereinafter described.

cording to the relative position of the pitman and disk. The motion produced by the guide block on the straight slot is, as just stated, in addition to the ordinary throw of the pitman, and is greatest when this latter is the least, and inversely proportionate to the same throughout.

K indicates aguide-plate, which is mounted in a slot in the breast-plate D, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. This guideplate is recessed at its rear end, to allow the passage of the'post '0, and is slotted transversely, as shown at k, the post 0 passing through the slot, being pivoted at its forward It will thus be seen that this guide-plate is capable of oscillation transversely to the line of movement of the plate B.

L indicates a plate, which is transversely reciprocated, as hereinafter described, being slotted at one end at Z to receive a guide-roller, L, suitably mounted on the bed-plate, and be ing also slotted, as shown at Z, the post 0 passing through this latter slot. The plate L is connected to the guide-plate K by means of a screw or pin, L so as to impart its motion to the said plate K, and consequently to the oscillating plate D. V

The plate L is actuated as follows: Between two projections, Z, on said plate is arranged a triangular cam, M, which is mounted 011 the post 0, and attached to or formed in one piece with the said cam is a ratchet-wheel, M, having six teeth, and with which the hook-pawl G engages. A flange, m, attached to or forming part of the ratchet-wheel and cam, extends outward beyond the same, below a disk, m, projecting similarly above, so that the two form a guide and support to hold the hookpawl in a proper position to engage with the ratchet-wheel.

It is obvious from the description that when the device is in operation, by reason of the construction set forth, a reciprocating movement transversely to the length of the attachment in each direction will he imparted to the plate L, and consequently an oscillating move ment to the plate D and the cloth holder, at each upward movement of the 11eedle-bar-i. e., at one upward stroke of the needle the said parts are moved in one direction transversely, and at the next upward stroke they will move in the opposite direction. The reciprocating motion of the plate L imparts the oscillating movement to the plate D of the cloth-holder through the medium of the guide -plate K, which is mounted, as hereinbefore described, in a slot in the said plate, and is connected to the plate L by means of the screw or pin L. This enables the machine to make the overseaming-stitch necessary in the manufacture of button-holes.

The traverse motion or change motion, which is necessary when the machine in its operation has finished one side of the buttonhole in order to throwihe parts over into a IIO proper position to finish the opposite side or edge thereof, is attained by the following mechamsm:

N indicates a plate pivoted on the post 0, and extending forward past the post 0, it being provided with a cam-slot, a, through which the post passes.

N indicates a cam arranged within the camslot at, the said cam being mounted on the post 0, and connected to the ratchet-wheel I, so as to be operated thereby. The plate N is connected by a suitable link, a, to an arm, 0, pivoted on the bed-plate A, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. For convenience, this arm is shown in the present instance as pivoted to the post which supports the guide-roller L; but it may of course be otherwise mounted.

0 indicates a connecting-arm, which is adjustably connected at one end to the arm 0, so that its point of connection with the arm 0 may be located at will at a point farther from or nearer to the fulcrum of the said arm. The other end of the connecting-arm O is pivoted to a plate, 0 which is itself pivoted on the post 0 and extends forward over the forward end of the guide-plate K, which is pivoted to it, as hereinafter described. The plate 0 it will be understood, is slotted at the point where the post O passes through it, so as to allow the said plate to vibrate when in operation.

From the above description it will be seen that when the pitman J has reached the end of its stroke in one direction, and one side of the buttouhole has been finished, the cam N will act upon the plate N and throw the same over to the opposite side. This movement will also be imparted to the plate 0 through the link a, arm O, and connecting-arm O, the extent of the movement of this latter plate being of course regulated by the position of the point of connection between the arms 0 and 0. Since the plate O is connected to the guide-plate K, this latter will also be thrown over, at the same time carrying with it the plate D and the clothholder, thus bringing the button-hole into proper position for the sewing of the other side.

It will be noticed that the studs Z on the plate L are arranged at a distance apart greater than the distance from any one apex of the triangular cam M to the center of the opposite side. Owing to this construction, the operating-lever will be raised by the needle-bar to a distance sufficient to lift the needle clear of the cloth before the cam M causes the plate L to traverse from one side to the other, which traversing motion would be greatly impeded ifnot entirely impracticable while the needle is in the cloth. Owing to the slot 9 in the hookpawl G, the feed-lever H is not actuated until the operating-lever has moved the hook-pawl a distance equal to the length of the slot, so that the feed motion does not begin until the needle is clear of-the cloth. It will thus be seen that the cloth-clamp is stationary during the whole time that the needle is in the cloth, its various movements only taking place when the needle is clear and the cloth free to move.

The connection between the guide-plate K and plate 0 is as follows: The plate K is provided at its forward end with a slot, 75, and the plate 0 with a similar slot, 0, the walls of which are beveled to receive a correspondingly-beveled block or box, 0. A box, is", is arranged in the slot k, both of these boxes being capable of sliding longitudinally in their slots for the purposes of adjustment, and a screw, 0", passes loosely through the box 0 and screws into the box It, as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 9 of the drawings. It is obvious that these parts may be adjusted to any point of the slots and there clamped by tightening the screw. Now this screw forms the pivot of the guide-plate K during the 0s cillation imparted to it, as hereinbefore specified, the plate 0 of course remaining stationary except when the traverse or change motion occurs. It will therefore be seen that by moving the said pivot back toward thepin U, which aetuates the guide-plate K, a longer sweep will be given to the cloth-plate at the end of the plate D, thus producing a longer overseamingstitch, while by moving the said pivot in the opposite direction ashorter overseaming-stitch will be produced. This is the case, because in so doing the fulcrum upon which the plates act is moved nearer to or farther from the pivotwhere themovingpowcr is applied.

A stop, Gfiis secured to the base-plate A, to limit the movement of the feed-lever H, this stop being so located that the lever is held against the same by the wall of the slot in the pawl G during the passage of the needle through the material. The stop thus prevents the lever from being carried too far by its own inertia, and also serves to hold it stationary, to prevent any accidental movement of the same at the period indicated.

A feed-guard, P, is attached to lhebcd'plate of the button-hole attachment, or, as shown in the present instance,to the dovetailed plate a, by which the attachment is secured to the machine. The central portion of this feed-guard, which is immediately over the regular feed device of the machine, is raised somewhat as shown in Figs. at and 9 of the drawings, so as to be out of the way of the said feed device, and to hold the cloth clear of the same, the guard thus having an arched shape. A hole, 1), is formed in the feed-guard to permit the passage of the needle, thus making it the needle-plate.

Obviously, the ordinary movement of the regular feed device of the sewing-machine will now cause no interruption to the work of the attachment, for the feed device cannot come in contact with the cloth; hence there is no necessity for removal or displacement. This feed-guard may be of any form suitable for the purpose, and the location and attachment ICC may be changed, provided always that it protects the fabric from the action of the ordinary feed.

1t may be made a separate piece, if desired, and attached to the bed-plate or some other suitable part when the button-hole attachment is applied. In the present instance it will be noticed that it is the fabric support and needle-plate ot' the attachment which is the construction I prefer, because of its simplicity and convenience.

From the above description the operation of my machine will be readily understood. The length of each step of the feed motion may be regulated by means of the stitch-regulator G'-, which will determine the distance apart at which the stitches are to belocated. The entire length of the feed may be regulated to pitman J and the disk 1.

correspond to the length of the button-hole by properly adjusting the connection between the By means of the stitch-equalizer the distance which separates the several stitches along the entire length of the buttonhole will be equalized in the manner hereinbefore pointed out, and the traverse or change motion at each end of the feed may be regulated by adjusting the connection be tween the arms 0 and O. The length of the overseaming-stitch may be regulated by ad justing the pivot screw 0", as hereinbefore pointed out.

It is obvious that various mechanical modifications in the details of construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limitin g myself strictly to the precise details hereinbelore described and shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The coi'nbination, with the feed-plate and the oscillating plate mounted thereon, of the operatinglever, the slotted pawl pivoted thereto, the feed-lever provided with a pin to engage the slot, and with a pawl and a ratchetwheel operated by the said pawl, and provided wit-l1 a pitman connected to the feed-plate, sub stantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the feed-lever H and the parts operated thereby, said feeddever being provided with a projection, h, ot'the slotted pawl G, connected to the operating-lever and provided with an adjustable plate, G which may be extended over the slot to regulate the stitches, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the feed-plate B, having attached to it a plate, J, provided with a transverse slot, j, and a longitudinal slot, j, of the pitman J, having one end connected to the intermittently-rotating ratchet-wheel I, and the other end provided with guide-blocks to slide in the slotsjj, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination, with the feed-plate and the slotted plate mounted thereon and carrying the cloth-clamp, oftheguide-plate arranged within the slot in the said plate and the transversely-reciprocating plate connected to the said guide-plate, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination, with the slotted plate I), of the guide-plate K, arranged within said slot, the pivoted plate 0, connected to the guide-plate, the pivoted arm 0, connected to the plate 0* by the connecting-arm O, and the pivoted plate N, connected to the pivoted arm and provided with a canrslot, in which is arranged a suitable cam, N, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

G. The combination, with the slotted plate 0*, of the slotted guide-plate K, an adjustable pivot connecting the two, the reciprocating plate L, for actuating the gnideplate, and the oscillating plate operated by the guide plate, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. In a button-hole attachment for sewingmachines, the combination, with the feed-1e ver provided with a pin and the mechanism operated thereby, of the actuating-lever and the hook-pawl G, provided with a slot, 9", with which the said pin engages, the said slot being of sufficient length to allow the needle to clear the cloth before the feed-lcver is actuated, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In a button-hole attachment for sewingmachines, the combination, with the triangular cam, of the transversely-reciprocating plate provided with fixed studs arranged at a greater distance apart than the radial diameter of the cam, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

JOHN 3V. BLODGETI.

Vi t n ess es:

IRVINE M ILLER, H. D. HOLLTSTER. 

